Srinagar: Following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government enforced a complete communication lockdown along with curfew-like restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
According to the J&K administration, landlines, mobiles phones and internet services were snapped because of apprehension of massive protests.
However, after seven months internet blockade was lifted but with the 2G speed in place. One year has passed but the high-speed (4G) internet is yet to be restored.
As a result, students, journalists, businessmen, people working in foreign companies, doctors and other people are facing severe difficulties.
Local journalists are facing the burnt of the communication clampdown from day one.
"When the government restored the internet in the Valley after seven long months, they also assured that high-speed internet will be restored too. They had said let the situation in the Valley normalise, and then 4G internet will be restored. But that hasn't been done till date," Wasim Nabi, a journalist working for a national media organisation said.
"The situation is not only regrettable but also condemnable," he added.
The education sector has suffered to such an extent that students are getting depressed.
Following the pandemic, the government announced online classes for the students but in Jammu and Kashmir because of tortoise internet things have become worse. As many as 1.5 million students are currently studying in private and government schools in Kashmir.
The school children are not able to download any lecture due to frequent disruptions in the internet speed. It takes hours to download recorded lectures the students say.
"It is causing depression rather than education," said a student.
The Internet is considered an important source of education, but in the erstwhile state, this facility is not available since around a year now.
"Students do not get any benefit from the 2G internet available in the Valley. Our preparation for the competitive exams have been affected to a very large extent, Falak, a NEET aspirant, told ETV Bharat.
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Educational institutions and schools have been shut for about 12 months now. The biggest impact since August 5, 2019, has been on the education system and the economy.
The absence of high-speed internet has left the economy here in shambles.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has claimed that the next review will be done in the coming two months through a special panel on the ban on high-speed 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir.
